U.S. News ranks Rye 11th best high school

Rye High School is ranked 11th best public high school in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 list of Best High Schools, released April 28.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 list of Best High Schools ranks Rye High School, pictured, the 11th best public high school in the state when the list included charter and magnet schools. File photo

Rye High ranked second best public school in the state when charter and magnet schools were removed from the list, which analyzed more than 19,400 high schools from around the country.

Rye ranked 68th best public high school in the nation when charter and magnet schools were counted and fourth best in the country when those schools were excluded from the list.

Rye City School District Superintendent Dr. Frank Alvarez congratulated High School Principal Patricia Taylor and the school’s staff and students on the accomplishment. He extended recognition to administrators and faculty at the district’s middle school and three elementary schools.

“We were thrilled to receive this excellent news and are proud of our high school’s impressive standing in the state and the country,” said Alvarez, deeming the school’s 2014 U.S. News ranking a reflection of dedication and hard work throughout the school district.

With the study’s methodology remaining the same, Rye’s ranking dropped a couple of spots from last year, when the U.S. News 2013 list ranked it the ninth best public high school out of 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The state of Nebraska did not report enough data to qualify in 2013, but was included in the 2014 list, which ranked schools in 50 states and D.C. In 2013, Rye High School ranked first in the state when charter and magnet schools were excluded.

Rye High School received a gold medal, which is an honor achieved by the 500 public high schools ranking highest in
college readiness.

U.S. News awarded different high schools across the nation gold, silver or bronze medals using a ranking system based on how well schools prepare students for college, student test scores and other factors. In 2014, 1,519 public high schools received silver medals, and 2,688 schools received bronze medals.

Visit U.S. News & World Report’s website to see the entire list of the best high schools countrywide.